Global Hand Washing Day : Osun RUWESA Takes Campaign To Religious Centres

The Osun Rural Water Environmental  Sanitation Agency (RUWESA) on Sunday took hand washing sensitisation programme to religious centres in the state as part of activities to mark the Global hand washing day.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)  reports that NASFAT centre for Muslims and Anglican Church for Christians were visited by RUWESA officials in Osogbo,   sensitising worshippers on the importance of hand washing.

Demonstrations on effective  hand washing  was also  carried out with washing facilities such as soap,  water,  bowl, towel,  among others.

Speaking during the sensitisation programme,  Mr Segun Moyinoluwa,  Director of Sanitation and Hygiene,  RUWESA,  said hand washing with soap prevent disease in a more straight forward and cost effective way than any vaccine.

Moyinoluwa said at this critical  period during which some states were battling with monkey pox virus, the importance of hand washing could not be over emphasised.

He said religious centre were targeted for the sensitisation programme due to the large gathering of worshipers who could help the state government in spreading the campaign.

Moyinoluwa said hand washing with soap was extremely and most inexpensive way of preventing diarrhoea and acute respiratory  infections.

” It is important to turn hand washing to habit. The simple act of washing hands at this critical moment is an easy and affordable intervention.

” Good hand washing hygiene will reduce the risk of water borne disease,  flu, food poisoning and health care associated infection being passed from person to person, Moyinoluwa said.

According to Moyinoluwa,  almost everyone in the world can afford multipurpose bar soap or detergent to make sappy water for hand washing.

” When hand washing with soap is practiced regularly at key times, such as after using the toilet or before contact with food, it can dramatically reduce the risk of diarrhea and pneumonia, which can cause serious illness and death.

“Hand washing with soap also helps prevent the spread of other infections such as influenza and Ebola”.

NAN reports that Global Hand washing Day is an annual global advocacy day dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding about the importance of hand washing with soap as an easy, effective, and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives.

It is celebrated annually on Oct. 15.